Garment sleeve spreader



Dec. 24, 1968 A. ALol GARMENT SLEEVE SPREADER 2 Sheets-Sheet l FiledJuly 7, 1966 Alfred Alai 1N VENTOR.

Dec. 24, 1968 A. ALol 3,417,905

GARMENT SLEEVE sP'READER l Filed July 7. 196e 2 sheets-sheet 2 e o Oaccenna om M T f n o A o m m m w no ne Muon'uunal.. von. 2 .0 ou. Oluwnoelonaaonooavuoaao Oo .2 .Cusano m a l J A United States Patent O3,417,905 GARMENT SLEEVE SPREADER Alfred Aloi, 116 Old Bergen Road,

Jersey City, NJ. 07305 Filed July 7, 1966, Ser. No. 563,463 7 Claims.(Cl. 223-74) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sleeve spreading deviceincluding a lazy tong actuator pivotally linked to a pair off U-shapedforaminous plates mounted upon the actuator in a parallel manner. Thebight portions of the plates are concavely confronting and thecorresponding leg portions of the U-shaped plates are positioned inoverlying sliding relation with each other whereby the plates form acontinuous surface of substantially oblong cross-section when insertedinto a sleeve and actuated to spread the sleeve. The interior of theoblong cross-section is suiciently hollow to permit the passage of fluidlongitudinally through the spreader plates. The tong actuator isspring-biased to normally reduce the major axial length of the oblongcross-section.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in devices usedfor the spreading of sleeves of garments which are being steamed,cleaned, pressed or otherwise iinish treated in dry cleaningestablishments and the like.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved garmentsleeve spreader which effectively and accurately holds the cuff of thesleeve in proper form and thereby prevents the sleeve cuit from becomingrufed by the steaming action and presenting an unpressed appearance.

Briey, the spreader of the invention comprises a pair of coacting sleeveengaging members connected to a pair of crossed levers which function ashandles. When the handles are pressed together, the sleeve engagingmembers are pressed together, and resilient means are provided forbiasing these sleeve engaging members to their spread apart position. Assuch, when the sleeve engaging members are inserted 1n the cuil of asleeve, they automatically cause the cuit to assume a proper contour andthe resilient bias of the sleeve engaging members also serves tofrictionally retain the device in position while the steaming operationis in progress, whereupon the device may be readily removed from thesleeve by simply pressing the handles together.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the provision oflinkage associated with the cross levers and with the sleeve engagingmembers so as to maintain the two sleeve engaging members in mutuallyparallel relation at all times, regardless of whether they are drawntogether or spread apart by manipulation of the handles. The sleeveengaging members always present a proper sleeve forming contour, and thedevice is capable of accommodating sleeves off different sizes.

Other advantages of the invention reside in its simple construction,etlicient and convenient operation, and in its adaptability toeconomical manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the garmentsleeve spreader of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view thereof, partly in elevation and partly insection;

Mice

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially in the plane ofthe line 3-3 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing a modified embodiment of thespreader;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged view, partly in elevation and partly in section,of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially in the plane ofthe line 6-6 in FIGURE 5; and,

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, Ifragmentary sectional detail, takensubstantially in the plane of the line 7 7 in FIGURE 6.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, more particularlyto FIGURES 1 3, inclusive, the garment sleeve spreader of the inventionis designated generally by the reference numeral 10 and embodies in itsconstruction a pair of coacting sleeve engaging members 11, 12 in theform of plates of a substantially U-shaped cross-section, as is bestshown in FIGURE 3. The member '11 has a bight portion 11b and a pair oftransversely spaced side portions 1i1s and similarly, the member 12 hasa bight portion 12b and a pair of spaced side portions .12s. The spacingof the side portions 12s of the member 12 is somewhat greater than thespacing of the side portions 11s of the member 11, so that the sideportions 12s overlap the side portions 11s and the two members '11, |12complement each other into an elongated oval. The two members 11, 12 arerelatively movable in lateral directions as indicated by the arrows 13in FIG- URE 3, so that the longitudinal di-mension of the ovalcrosssection may be increased or decreased by relative movement of themembers *further apart or closer together.

The members 11, 12 are elongated in a `direction normal to theircross-section and each member is preferably formed from foraminousmaterial having minute openings 14 over its entire area, as well as aplurality of larger openings or apertures 15. The free upper and loweredges as well as the side edges of the members 11, 12 are preferablydoubled under themselves or beaded as indicated at 116, so as to avoidsharp edges such as could damage the garment to which the device isapplied.

A channel bar of a U-shaped cross-section 17 is secured within the bightportion of each of the members 11 and 12, as for example 'by suitablescrews 18 passing through one side ange of the channel. The channels 17are each provided `with a longitudinal slot 19. A pivot element such asa screw, bolt of pin 20 is ixedly mounted in one end of each slot. Thepivot elements 20 pass through one end of a pair of crossed levers 21which are pivotally connected together at their point of crossing as at22 and the outer ends of these levers are conveniently arranged toprovide a pair of coacting handles 23. It will be apparent that when thehandles 23 are pressed toward each other, the other ends of the levers21 equipped with the pivots 20 will move toward each other, thuscorrespondingly moving the sleeve engaging members 11, 12 toward eachother and reducing the longitudinal dimension of the ovalcross-sectional form of the device as indicated at 13 in FIGURE 3.

A pair of tension springs 24 are connected at one end to the respectivepivots 20 and at their other ends to the respective levers 21 adjacentthe members 11, 12 so as to -bias the members 11, 12 to their spreadapart positions.

Means are provided for maintaining the members 11, 12 mutually parallelat all times, regardless of the movement of the levers 21. These meanscomprise a pair of crossed links 25 which are pivotally connectedtogether at their point of crossing as at 26 and are disposed within themembers 11, 12. The links 25 have one end thereof mounted on therespective pivots 20 and their other ends are equipped with pivotelements 27 which are slidable longitudinally in the slots 19 of thechannels 17 associated with the respective members 11, 12. It should beunderstood, of course, that only the pivots 27 are slidable in the slots19, While the pivots 20 remain in a iixed position at the end of theslots. Thus, the crossed links coact with the crossed levers 21 inproducing what may -be referred to as a lazy tongs action, by which thelinks `25 serve to maintain the members 11, 12 in mutually parallelrelation at all times, regardless of whether the handles 23 are movedtogether or drawn apart.

When the device is to be used, as for example for spreading the sleeveof va garment which is being steam finished, the handles 23 are squeezedtogether, thus drawing the members 11, 12 together suiciently to permitthem to be inserted in the cuff of a garment sleeve, shown Iby thedotted lines 28 in FIGURE l. Then, hand pressure on the handles 23 isrelaxed, thus permitting the springs 24 to urge the members 11, 12 apartand into engagement with the inside of the sleeve culi, thus serving tospread the culi and support the same in its proper form during steamingand pressing. The engagement of the members 11, 12 with the inside ofthe sleeve cuff frictionally retains the device in position in thesleeve, until its use is no longer required. At that time the device maybe readily removed from the sleeve by again compressing the handles 23to draw the members 11, 12

together and facilitate their removal from the sleeve. It will beunderstood, of course, that the foraminous nature of the members 11, 12permits steam or other treating fluid to pass through the members intothe material of the sleeve under treatment.

Reference is now drawn to the modified embodiment of the inventionillustrated in FIGURES 4-7 and designated generally by the referencenumeral 30. Although the already described embodiment 10 is variable insize 4by virtue of the relative movement of the members 11, 12 and isthus capa-ble of fitting sleeves of different sizes, in some instancesthe sleeve size variations may be such as to require a larger spreader.

This is attained by the provision of the spreader 30 having a pair ofsleeve engaging members 31, 32 which are laterally stepped intermediatetheir ends as at 33 so as to provide a relatively narrow upper portion34 and a relatively wide lower portion 35. As will be apparent fromFIGURE 4, only the narrow upper portions 34 of the members 31, 32 may beinserted into the cuff` of a garment sleeve 28 when the latter isrelatively small. However, if the garment sleeve is of a large size, thefull length of the members 31, 32 may be inserted so that the relativelywide lower portions 35 of the members engage the sleeve.

The actuating levers 21 and linkage 25 in the embodiment 30 are arrangedin the same manner as in the embodiment 10, so that a furtherdescription thereof at this point is unnecessary. However, a slightdifference exists in the mounting of the channels 17 which, rather thanbeing secured directly to the members 31, 32, are riveted as at 36 (seeFIGURE 5) to supporting bars 37 which, in turn, are mounted within themembers 31, 32, as by suitable screws 38. The supporting Ibars 37 arelaterally offset intermediate their ends so as to iit the lateral offset33 of the members 31, 32, as will be clearly apparent. In addition,diagonal braces 39 extend from the lower ends of the channels 17 to thelower ends of the bars 37 within the enlarged lower portions 35 of themembers 31, 32, as illustrated.

It will be apparent that the sleeve spreader of the invention in eitherof its disclosed embodiments is very simple in construction andefiicient in operation regardless of the size of the garment sleeve withwhich it may be used.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modiiications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A garment sleeve spreader, comprising in combination a pair ofcrossed levers pivotally connected together at their point of crossingand providing a pair of coacting handles at one end thereof, a pair ofelongated and parallel garment sleeve engaging members disposed at theother ends of said levers, a pair of longitudinally extending barsrigidly secured within the respective sleeve engaging members, -a pairof pivots connecting said other ends of said levers to the respetcivebars whereby said sleeve engaging members may be moved apart when saidhandles are moved apart and vice versa, and a pair of crossed linksdisposed Within said members and pivotally connected together at theirpoint of crossing, said links having one end thereof mounted on therespective pivots and their other end slidably connected to therespective bars whereby to maintain said sleeve engaging members inmutually parallel relation notwithstanding movement of said levers.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 together with resilient meansbiasing said sleeve engaging members to a spread apart position.

3. The device as defined in claim 2, wherein said resilient meanscomprise a pair of tension springs extending from the respective handlesto the respective pivots.

4. The devices as defined in claim 1 wherein said sleeve engagingmembers comprise a pair of foraminous plates of a U-shaped cross-sectionslidably overlapping each other.

5. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said sleeve engaging membersare longitudinally straight.

6. rIhe device as defined in claim 1 where in said sleeve engagingmembers are laterally stepped intermediate the ends thereof, wherebyinner end portions of the sleeve members adjacent said levers arerelatively wide and the outer end portions thereof are relativelynorrow.

7. A garment sleeve spreader including a pair of elongated foraminousplates, each plate being characterized by a U-shaped cross-section, thecorresponding leg portions of each plate being parallel, the bightportions of said plates being concavely confronting, said plates beingadjustably slidable with respect to each other, said plates forming acontinuous surface of substantially oblong cross-section, the interiorof said oblong cross-section being sufiiciently hollow to permit thepassage of fluid longitudinally therethrough.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 889,014 5/1908 Jackson 223-633,015,422 1/1'962 De Fino 223-74 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.GEORGE V. LARKI'N, Assistant Examiner.

